My friends, we are going to take a short break from the series I have been writing about my friend Ken. We will return to the series next week, but as I find myself on the road and away from my office, I am without the necessary recorded interviews. Rather, this week, let's take a look at how the home front was faring during World War II.
Recently I sat down with Jerry, a good friend and veteran of the Pacific Theatre. Of all the things he spoke of, there was one quote that stands out in my mind: During World War II you didn't have to be in the front lines to make a difference. Everyone chipped in; everyone made sacrifices.
Jerry was right - during the 1940s, everyone who chipped in had a profound impact on the war. Folks, consider this, which is referenced from the Woodrow Wilson Leadership Program for Teachers Web site: "In World War II, children in the United States were encouraged to collect milkweed pods and turn them in to the government, where the fluffy silk was used to stuff life vests and flying suits. The silk was especially good because (it is exceptionally buoyant) and lightweight" (http://www.woodrow.org/teachers/ bi/2000/index.html). Additionally, since ordinary, everyday objects were needed for the war effort, children and civilians alike collected rubber, tin, paper, lumber, steel, etc. Popular phrases of the time included "Get into the scrap!" and "Get some cash for your trash!"
Daryl and Marie told me of how they, as school kids, would go out in the afternoons to pick milkweed. Daryl described the children, forming a line, and harvesting every pod in sight down the long, dusty country roads. He laughed - that's why we don't see so much milkweed these days; the kids picked it all during World War II!
In that same conversation, Marie proudly presented her ration booklet, which limited the consumer goods Americans could purchase throughout the war. Sure enough, there were still some stamps; good for predetermined amounts of sugar, gasoline and other needed items. What was most fascinating to me was that Americans accepted these terms with little complaint. And folks, everything was rationed, including cars, gasoline, typewriters, sugar, gasoline, bicycles, footwear, fuel oil, coffee, stoves, shoes, meat, lard, shortening and oils, cheese, butter and margarine, just to name a few. Even firewood was rationed.
In other ways, Americans contributed to the war effort with a sense of unity that seems lacking in today's society. I recently got my hands onto something I had seen years ago, and have always wanted. For Christmas my mother bought me a collection of original World War II-era Bugs Bunny cartoons. In the episode "Super Rabbit," Bugs fights a rabbit-hating cowboy, only to conclude with Bugs emerging from a booth singing the anthem of the U.S. Marine Corps: "This looks like a job for a real superman! ... From the Halls of Montezuma, To the Shores of Tripoli ..." decked out in a full dress uniform. And folks, the Marines seriously had the best uniform during World War II.
In another episode, Daffy Duck is sent to Germany, seduced by a sexy and enchanting German spy, and is forced to give up his "Secret Message." After abusing the poor duck, Hitler personally reads the message, which says, "Hitler is a Stinker!" Aghast, the Fuhrer's top generals say, "That's no secret message - everybody knows that!"
The cartoon "Hare Meets Herr" begins with a caricatured American broadcast, "Where is Fatso Goering?" This of course, is a reference to Hermann Goering, the plump commander of Germany's Luftwaffe. In this episode, Goering is seen prancing through the Black Forest, when Bugs shows up, asking directions to Las Vegas. Goering replies, "Why, there is no Las Veegas in Chermany!"
In these cartoons, everyone - the Russians, the Germans, and Japanese - are all stereotyped, all portrayed in ways that would seem racist and propagandist by today's standards. These cartoons would never be made today, but they were screened during the 1940s at picture shows, to the very audiences that were making sacrifices to the war effort.
Folks, it was a different time - people recognized who their enemy was, and dealt a brutal blow. Sometimes, the perceived enemy was on the same side. Consider this chilling story: My brother told me of a conversation he had with a friend, whose grandfather was in the Navy during World War II. His grandfather would say how, on the ship, if there was a sailor the crew did not particularly like; he would just "disappear." Literally, for roll call the next morning, the guy simply would not be there, and of course, no one knew anything. Although I doubt that this sort of thing happened frequently, it obviously did, and paints a very real picture of how tough things were during the 1940s.
The more I think about these stories, the more I realize how unfair it is to judge and compare the actions of World War II by today's standards. Things were done and said during my grandparents' time that definitely seem shocking by today's sterile and pampered ideals. Seriously folks, we can complain about high gas and grocery prices - and then go purchase more of those commodities than we could possibly use in a lifetime. We are not rationed, nor are we limited. Jerry made an excellent point when he said that it was everyone's effort and sacrifices that won the war. Would we be as tough, would we make those same sacrifices today?
- Dan Wegmueller of Monroe writes a weekly column for Friday editions of the Times. He can be reached at dwegs@tds.net.
Recently I sat down with Jerry, a good friend and veteran of the Pacific Theatre. Of all the things he spoke of, there was one quote that stands out in my mind: During World War II you didn't have to be in the front lines to make a difference. Everyone chipped in; everyone made sacrifices.
Jerry was right - during the 1940s, everyone who chipped in had a profound impact on the war. Folks, consider this, which is referenced from the Woodrow Wilson Leadership Program for Teachers Web site: "In World War II, children in the United States were encouraged to collect milkweed pods and turn them in to the government, where the fluffy silk was used to stuff life vests and flying suits. The silk was especially good because (it is exceptionally buoyant) and lightweight" (http://www.woodrow.org/teachers/ bi/2000/index.html). Additionally, since ordinary, everyday objects were needed for the war effort, children and civilians alike collected rubber, tin, paper, lumber, steel, etc. Popular phrases of the time included "Get into the scrap!" and "Get some cash for your trash!"
Daryl and Marie told me of how they, as school kids, would go out in the afternoons to pick milkweed. Daryl described the children, forming a line, and harvesting every pod in sight down the long, dusty country roads. He laughed - that's why we don't see so much milkweed these days; the kids picked it all during World War II!
In that same conversation, Marie proudly presented her ration booklet, which limited the consumer goods Americans could purchase throughout the war. Sure enough, there were still some stamps; good for predetermined amounts of sugar, gasoline and other needed items. What was most fascinating to me was that Americans accepted these terms with little complaint. And folks, everything was rationed, including cars, gasoline, typewriters, sugar, gasoline, bicycles, footwear, fuel oil, coffee, stoves, shoes, meat, lard, shortening and oils, cheese, butter and margarine, just to name a few. Even firewood was rationed.
In other ways, Americans contributed to the war effort with a sense of unity that seems lacking in today's society. I recently got my hands onto something I had seen years ago, and have always wanted. For Christmas my mother bought me a collection of original World War II-era Bugs Bunny cartoons. In the episode "Super Rabbit," Bugs fights a rabbit-hating cowboy, only to conclude with Bugs emerging from a booth singing the anthem of the U.S. Marine Corps: "This looks like a job for a real superman! ... From the Halls of Montezuma, To the Shores of Tripoli ..." decked out in a full dress uniform. And folks, the Marines seriously had the best uniform during World War II.
In another episode, Daffy Duck is sent to Germany, seduced by a sexy and enchanting German spy, and is forced to give up his "Secret Message." After abusing the poor duck, Hitler personally reads the message, which says, "Hitler is a Stinker!" Aghast, the Fuhrer's top generals say, "That's no secret message - everybody knows that!"
The cartoon "Hare Meets Herr" begins with a caricatured American broadcast, "Where is Fatso Goering?" This of course, is a reference to Hermann Goering, the plump commander of Germany's Luftwaffe. In this episode, Goering is seen prancing through the Black Forest, when Bugs shows up, asking directions to Las Vegas. Goering replies, "Why, there is no Las Veegas in Chermany!"
In these cartoons, everyone - the Russians, the Germans, and Japanese - are all stereotyped, all portrayed in ways that would seem racist and propagandist by today's standards. These cartoons would never be made today, but they were screened during the 1940s at picture shows, to the very audiences that were making sacrifices to the war effort.
Folks, it was a different time - people recognized who their enemy was, and dealt a brutal blow. Sometimes, the perceived enemy was on the same side. Consider this chilling story: My brother told me of a conversation he had with a friend, whose grandfather was in the Navy during World War II. His grandfather would say how, on the ship, if there was a sailor the crew did not particularly like; he would just "disappear." Literally, for roll call the next morning, the guy simply would not be there, and of course, no one knew anything. Although I doubt that this sort of thing happened frequently, it obviously did, and paints a very real picture of how tough things were during the 1940s.
The more I think about these stories, the more I realize how unfair it is to judge and compare the actions of World War II by today's standards. Things were done and said during my grandparents' time that definitely seem shocking by today's sterile and pampered ideals. Seriously folks, we can complain about high gas and grocery prices - and then go purchase more of those commodities than we could possibly use in a lifetime. We are not rationed, nor are we limited. Jerry made an excellent point when he said that it was everyone's effort and sacrifices that won the war. Would we be as tough, would we make those same sacrifices today?
- Dan Wegmueller of Monroe writes a weekly column for Friday editions of the Times. He can be reached at dwegs@tds.net.
